Bracket device

ABSTRACT

A bracket providing an auxiliary support adapted for easy connection to or removal from a base structure having an opening opposite edge portions of which may serve as mounting means for the bracket. 
     The bracket illustrated comprises a plurality of arm elements having a common pivot. One portion of the arm elements is adapted to serve as a support for an object to be appropriately mounted with reference to said base structure. Other portions of said arm elements provide two anchoring means the projected ends of which may be inserted in the opening in the base structure. Means are provided to induce a scissors-like spread of the inserted arm elements, to cause remote surface portions thereof to firmly engage said opposite edge portions of said opening, and to fix said arm elements in a predetermined relation to each other and to the base structure to which the bracket is mounted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in bracket type auxiliary supportstructures and, more particularly, to a bracket designed for applicationto a base structure having an opening opposite edge portions of whichmay serve as a mounting means for the bracket. As herein illustrated thebracket serves to mount an antenna on an automotive vehicle. However itsapplication and use is obviously not so limited, nor is such limitationas to use intended.

The objective and achievement of the invention is to provide meansenabling a simplified mount of an object such as a Citizens Band radioantenna on an automotive vehicle. Under normal conditions the mount ofsuch an object has been difficult, often requiring special tools and inmost instances a defacing of the base structure to which the object mustbe mounted. Moreover, as such devices have been mounted in the priorart, the removal thereof in conjunction with their auxiliary support hasbeen extremely difficult and/or has produced a further defacing of thebase structure to which it has been mounted. This last mentioneddifficulty has been eliminated by the present invention.

A principal achievement of the present invention is that it enablesanyone to easily, simply and quickly install an antenna or like objectwithout need for previous experience or particular manual dexterity,under conditions that have heretofore demanded special knowledge orskill or required special equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a simple bracket a preferred embodiment of whichincludes a headed bolt having a threadedly engaged nut. The bolt servesas a common pivot for a plurality of arm-like elements mounted therebyfor pivotal movement in essentially side by side parallel planes,intermediate the head of the bolt and its threadedly engaged nut.

In the form illustrated, one of the arm-like elements is designed toreceive and mount an antenna. Other of the arm-like elements serve astwo anchoring means which in a free pivoting condition may be insertedbetween opposite edge portions of an opening in a base structure towhich the bracket must be applied. One of the anchoring means is shownto comprise a pair of arm elements which are transversely spaced bymeans of a further arm element which forms the other of the anchoringmeans. There is no connection between said anchoring means other than bymeans of the bolt to which they commonly mount. However the pair oftransversely spaced arm elements which form one anchoring means includetransversely aligned apertures in which is inserted a rotatable andrelatively movable pin. The pin so disposed forms a bridge between saidpair of transversely spaced arm elements and has a tapped openingintermediate its ends accommodating a threadedly engaged screw.

Upon insertion of the arm-like elements which form said anchoring meansbetween opposite edge portions of an opening in a base structure such asprovided in a bumper or other body portion of an automotive vehicle, thescrew may be turned to project further in the direction of the singlearm-like element forming said other of said anchoring means to biasagainst the same, producing a scissors-like spread of the arm elementsof the anchoring means to fix them against opposite edge portions of theopening defined in the base structure, to which the bracket is applied.

A primary object and achievement of the invention is a bracket which issimple and economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory inuse, adaptable to a variety of applications and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the mounting of abracket constituting an auxiliary support to means defining an openingin a base structure to which the bracket must be applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket embodying thetotal means required for its application to means defining an opening ina base structure to which the bracket must be applied utilizinganchoring means the engagement of which is achieved by theirscissors-like spread.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket enabling anyindividual, without previous experience, to simply, easily and quicklymount a radio antenna or other object under conditions that would berelatively difficult using equipment previously available for suchpurposes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bracket possessingthe advantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriouscharacteristics and means and mode of use herein described or apparenttherefrom.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the drawings wherein is shown one but not the onlyembodiment and application of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragment of a sectional view illustrating the application ofthe bracket of FIGS. 1 and 2 to means defining an opening in the basestructure to which the bracket must be mounted, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the bracket in asecurely mounted condition.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises abracket device providing an auxiliary support adapted for easyconnection to or removal from a base structure characterized by anopening opposite edge portions of which may serve as a mounting meansfor the bracket. As shown, the bracket is being used to mount an antennafor a Citizens Band radio which has been incorporated in an automotivevehicle.

The bracket device constituting a preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprises four plate-like arm elements 10, 12, 14 and 16 each of whichis formed to include an aperture 20 in an area thereof which is in anadjacent spaced relation to one end. The apertures 20 accommodate theprojection therethrough of the body of a bolt element 22. The latterprovides a common pivot about which the arm elements may be pivotallyadjusted, as and when needs require. As so mounted, the arm elements 10,12, 14 and 16 are laterally contained by an expanded head portion 24provided on one end of the bolt 22 and a nut 26 threadedly engaged tothe opposite end of the bolt. As will be obvious, the arm elements maybe clamped in any relative positions to which they are adjusted merelyby turning the nut 26 on the threads of the bolt 22, in the direction ofthe bolt head portion 24. By the same token, a backing off of the nutportion 26 leaves the arm elements in a condition wherein they are freeto relatively pivot.

As may be seen with reference to the drawings, the arm element 10 may beconsidered to be a mounting device. Its end which projects outermostwith reference to the bolt 22 is in this case formed in theconfiguration of a sleeve 28 the longitudinal axis of which is orientedto lie in the plane of the arm element 10 and in a sense at right anglesto the pivot 22. As shown, the sleeve 13 is telescoped over a wand-likestructure representing an antenna 30 which may be utilized inconjunction with a Citizens Band radio. Suitable means may be providedto fix the antenna in its confined relation to the sleeve 28. The natureand character of such fixing means may be variously contrived and it isnot detailed since in and of itself it forms no critical part of thepresent invention.

The arm elements 12 and 16 have an identical elongate generallyrectangular shape which includes generally parallel longitudinal edgesand bluntly rounded end portions. Each is formed with a notch 13 in theone longitudinal edge thereof which positions uppermost in theapplication illustrated, in a position adjacent and in closely spacedrelation to the end thereof remote from its aperture 20, and anadditional aperture 18. The aperture 18 is intermediate the notch 13 andthe aperture 20 but in a location which is more closely adjacent that ofthe notch 13 than that of the aperture 20.

The arm element 14 has the same general size and shape as the armelements 12 and 16 and includes a notch 15 in one longitudinal edgethereof which positions lowermost in the application illustrated. Thenotch 15 has a shape identical with that of the notch 13 in each of thearms 12 and 16, the shape providing sides which diverge outwardly from arecessed base, the latter being formed on a line generally parallel tothat of the longitudinal plate edge in which the notch is formed. Thelongitudinal edge of the arm element 14 opposite that including thenotch 15 is provided, intermediate its ends, with a relatively deepnotch 35, the sides of which are essentially parallel and the recessedbase of which is arcuate and formed on a uniform radius.

It will be seen that, as mounted on the bolt type pivot 22, the innerpivoted end of the arm element 14 is positioned intermediately of and inspacing relation to the arm elements 12 and 16. Moreover, the armelements 12, 14 and 16 are so designed, as described, that when they arearranged to project radially of the bolt 22 in exactly the same sense,they will position in a transversely aligned, side by side, relation.This causes the apertures 18 and the inner end portion of the notch 35to be transversely aligned. The notches 13 in the arms 12 and 16 arealso positioned thereby in transverse alignment and to open in the samesense while the notch 15, which is in an opposite edge of the armelement 14, will open in an opposite sense.

To complete the bracket, as required for use thereof, the arm elements12 and 16 are interconnected in a side by side generally parallelrelation by an assembly comprising a pin-like member 32, a nut 40 and ascrew 38. Prior to the application thereof to the pin member 32, thescrew 38 is first threaded through the nut 40, the diameter of which isgreater in dimension than the space between the arm elements 12 and 16as they are clamped, together with the arms 10 and 14, between the bolthead 24 and the nut 26 to serve their necessary support function, in amanner to be further described.

The pin element 32 has cylindrically shaped end portions interconnectedby a central body portion 34 of relatively reduced diameter. The bodyportion 34 is eccentrically offset from the longitudinal axis aboutwhich the cylindrical end portions of the pin element 32 are formed. Ata location centered between the ends of the pin element 32, the bodyportion 34 is provided with a transversely directed through aperture 36which is tapped to enable that it be threadedly engaged by the screw 38after passage thereof through the nut 40.

The pin element is assembled to the arm elements 12 and 16 by placingthe cylindrically shaped end portions thereof within the apertures 18.Since the apertures 18 have a slightly larger diameter than that of thecylindrical end portions of the pin element 32, when assembled asdescribed, the pin element may be freely rotated so that the end of thepassage or aperture 36 which opens from the radially outermost surfaceportion of the body portion 34 positions uppermost, as seen in FIGS. 2,3 and 4 of the drawings, whereupon the screw 38 may be inserted toachieve a coupling of the arm elements 12 and 16. The screw 38 isadvanced with respect to the body portion 34 until it projects from thelowermost end of the passage 36. Nut 40 is applied to screw 38 prior toits being inserted into passage 36. As will be obvious, the nut 40 maybe turned down on the screw 38 to seat on the uppermost edges of theplate-like arm elements 12 and 16, in bridging relation thereto. Withthe bracket apparatus assembled as above described, it is ready forapplication as an auxiliary support.

The part A schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawingsrepresents a base structure (in this case the bumper of an automobile)having means defining an opening presenting opposite edge portions B₁and B₂ to which the bracket may be quickly and easily mounted and fromwhich it may be readily removed, working from only one side of thebumper. To apply the bracket device, the nut 26 must be backed off,slightly, from its clamping relation to the arm elements, whereupon thearm element 14 is rotated to position between the coupled arm elements12 and 16 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. This disposes the armelements 12, 14 and 16 in side by side transversely aligned relation, asenabled by the notch 35 in the arm element 14. With the arm elements 12,14 and 16 in their transversely aligned relation the projectedextremities thereof which include the notches 13 and 15 may be freelyinserted in the opening in the bumper A to position the uppermostnotches 13 immediately under and in direct alignment with the upper edgeportion B₁ defining the upper extremity of the opening in the bumperwhile the oppositely directed notch 15 will be similarly positioned withrespect to the lower extremity of the means defining the opening in thebumper designated by the numeral B₂. Of course, in all instances thesize of the bracket arms will be appropriately related to the size ofthe openings in which they are to be inserted for purposes of theirconnection to a base structure. Once the notches 13 and 15 arerespectively aligned with the edge portions B₁ and B₂ of the basestructure, (with the nut 40 backed off from arm elements 12 and 16) thescrew 38 may be rotated to advance its projected extremity, turning inthe tapped aperture 36 of the body portion 34 of the pin element 32. Themotion of the screw is continued in this sense until the projectedextremity thereof engages and bears on the means defining the arcuatebase portion of the notch 35 in the arm 14. Further rotation of thescrew causes body portion 34 of the pin element 32 to bear reactantlyagainst the upper edge portions of the means defining the apertures 18in the respective arm elements 12 and 16. In this way one producesoppositely directed forces which induce, in turn, a scissors-like spreadof the respective anchoring means provided on the one hand by thecoupled arm elements 12 and 16 and on the other hand by the arm element14. It is to be noted that in the insertion of the side by side,transversely aligned arm elements in the opening of the bumper A thatthey will normally be clamped in light frictional engagement byappropriate adjustment of the nut 26. This prevents a looseness of thearm 14 with reference to its positioning in respect to the arm elements12 and 16 which would otherwise occur prematurely. Further, in thelightly held frictional connection between the arm elements they areconditioned to readily permit the scissors-like spread of the twoanchoring means so provided. In any event, the spreading of the pairedarm elements 12 and 16 with reference to the arm element 14 will causethe respective notched portions 13 and 15 thereof to move to and nestand be wedged against the surface portions B₁ and B₂ defining thevertical extremities of the opening in the bumper A. As the screw isturned to effect this wedged engagement of the notched portions of theanchoring means to the base structure, resistance will be encountered tothe turning of the screw which indicates the bracket device is securelylocked to the support, whereupon the nut 40 will be turned down to seatfirmly on the upper edges of the arm elements 12 and 16. A reactantforce so generated and applied to the threads of screw 38 locks thescrew against unintended rotation as might result from vibration or thelike. With the anchoring means provided by the arm elements 12, 14 and16 spread and locked in place, the nut 26 is turned to lock the armelements one on the other and against the arm element 10 constitutingthe mounting device for the antenna 30. Of course, the antenna 30 may beapplied at any appropriate time and in various manner believed obvious,as previously noted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the removal of the bracketdevice is even easier than its application. All one need do is toretract the nut 40 from the arm elements 12 and 16 and turn the screw 38in a sense oppositely of that before described. Once this is done, thenut 26 may be slightly backed off sufficiently that one can collapse theanchoring means, one upon the other, to position in transversely alignedrelation, whereupon the bracket device may be withdrawn from the bumper.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the mounting or removal of thebracket device of the invention may be achieved by simple means whichare readily available. In no event does the apparatus require anycomplex manipulation or any extreme effort in the application or removalthereof.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that in the spreading ofthe anchoring means the design of the pin-like member 32 to permit itsfree rotation and slight relative movement in the apertures 18 enablesthe pin element to adjust to the changing positions of angularity of theanchoring means constituted by the arm elements 12 and 16 on the onehand and the arm element 14 on the other hand. This ability to changeand shift insures that the thrust of the screw 38 will be optimallydirected at all times to remain essentially perpendicular to the surfaceprovided in opposition thereto by the edge portion of the arm 14 whichdefines the notch 35. By the same token, the nut 40 will seat squarelyand firmly, at all times to the upper edge portions of the upperanchoring means constituted by the coupled arm elements 12 and 16. Itwill be seen, of course, that the diameter of the screw 38 as it extendsbetween the adjacent sides of the arm elements 12 and 16 will be such toprevent axial displacement of the pin-like element 32, once the assemblyof the pin 32, the screw 38 and the nut 40 is applied to form part ofthe anchoring means constituted by the arm elements 12 and 16.

It will of course be obvious that the procedure in use of the embodimentof the invention illustrated or any comparable embodiment may be variedto suit a person's inclination. The description of the use andapplication of the bracket device as here described is only exemplaryand is in no event to be construed as limiting.

Further, there may be obvious modifications in the structure illustratedwithout departing from the concept of the invention. For example, thearm elements 12 and 16 may be originally formed as a unitary structureand in fact it is obvious, while not preferred, that rather than beingcomprised of two arm elements 12 and 16 the anchoring means constitutedthereby may utilize only a single arm element while appropriateprovision is made for the limited positioning of the screw element 38.

An interesting feature of the preferred embodiment illustrated is thatthe arm element 14 is unrelated to the arm elements 12 and 16 except byway of the common pivot. This insures that a person using the bracketdevice will properly position the arm element 14 in the application ofthe bracket device in a manner to insure an absolute coupling andlocking the device in connection with the means defining the opening inthe base structure to which the bracket device is applied.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effectand the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. Bracket apparatuscomprising at least two anchoring means pivotally mounted to adapt theirprojected end portions to be disposed in an opening between oppositeedge portions of a base structure to which the bracket is intended tomount, means for inducing a scissors-like spread of said anchoring meansto have remote portions thereof engage to the said opposite edgeportions of said base structure, means defining a mounting deviceinterconnected with said anchoring means and adapted to be supportedthereby and in a fixed relation thereto, said anchoring means beingformed by a plurality of arm-like elements having a common means towhich they mount, a first portion of said arm-like elements providingone of said two anchoring means and mounting means extending in a sensetransversely thereof and movable relative thereto which mounts in turn adevice which is movable to and retractable from a further portion ofsaid arm-like elements which forms a second of said anchoring means,said device providing said means for inducing said scissors-like spreadof said anchoring means, being a screw and said transversely extendingmeans being a pivot which is mounted for rotative movement in said firstportion of said arm-like elements.
 2. Bracket apparatus arranged tosupport a mounting device for an antenna or like object comprising atleast two arm-like means pivotally related by pivot means and adaptedthereby to position in an adjacent side by side relation or be pivotallyadjusted in scissors-like fashion, said pivot means being positionedmore remote from one end of said arm-like means than the other, meansmounted to and extending laterally of one of said two arm-like means tonormally dispose free of and in a sense transverse to the other of saidtwo arm-like means, said laterally extending means being rotatablymounted to said one of said two arm-like means and being positionedintermediate the location of said pivot means and said one end of saidone of said arm-like means and mounting in connection therewith meansadapted to be variably projected therefrom to engage and apply pressureto said other of said two arm-like means when the ends of said twoarmlike means more remote from said pivot means are disposed in anopening between opposite edge portions of a base structure to which thebracket is intended to mount whereby to cause said arm-like means to bespread and forced into clamping relation with said opposite edgeportions between which they are disposed.
 3. Bracket apparatuscomprising at least two arm-like means pivotally related by pivot meansand adapted thereby to position in adjacent side by side relation or bepivotally adjusted in scissors-like fashion, means mounted to andextending laterally of one of said two arm-like means to normallydispose free of and in a sense transverse to the other of said arm-likemeans, said laterally extending means mounting in connection therewithmeans adapted to be variably projected therefrom to engage and applypressure to said other of said two arm-like means when ends of said twoarm-like means remote from their pivotal connection are disposed in anopening between opposite edge portions of a base structure to which thebracket is intended to mount whereby to cause said arm-like means to bespread and forced into clamping relation with said opposite edgeportions between which they are disposed, said one of said arm-likemeans being comprised of a pair of arm-like elements having aperturestherein which are adapted to be transversely aligned and sized toreceive said laterally extending means, said laterally extending meansproviding a transversely disposed pivot which forms a bridge betweensaid arm-like elements to provide for their conjoint pivoting movementwith respect to said other of said two arm-like means.
 4. Bracketapparatus as in claim 3 characterized by the size of said alignedapertures in said bridged pair of arm-like elements is such to permitfreedom of motion of said transversely disposed pivot within the boundsthereof as well as rotative movement thereof with respect thereto. 5.Bracket apparatus as in claim 3 wherein both said two arm-like meanscomprise arm-like elements and said arm-like elements are each flatplate-like elements having notches in their portions which are disposedto provide remote side edges of said two arm-like means and adaptedthereby to accommodate, said opposite edge portions of said basestructure as said arm-like means are spread therebetween.
 6. Bracketapparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that said other of saidarm-like means comprises a single arm element which orients to move in aplane intermediate of and parallel to the planes defined by said pair ofsaid arm-like elements.
 7. Bracket apparatus comprising at least twoanchoring means pivotally mounted to adapt their projected end portionsto be disposed in an opening between opposite edge portions of a basestructure to which the bracket is intended to mount, means for inducinga scissors-like spread of said anchoring means to have remote portionsthereof engage to the said opposite edge portions of said basestructure, means defining a mounting device interconnected with saidanchoring means and adapted to be supported thereby and in a fixedrelation thereto, said anchoring means being formed by a plurality ofarm-like elements having a common means to which they mount, a firstportion of said arm-like elements providing one of said two anchoringmeans and mounting means extending in a sense transversely thereof andmovable relative thereto which mounts in turn a device which is movableto and retractable from a further portion of said arm-like elementswhich forms a second of said anchoring means, said device, providingsaid means for inducing said scissors-like spread of said anchoringmeans, being a screw which is projectable to and retractable from an armelement which forms said further portion of said arm-like elements andincludes in an edge thereof adjacent said screw a recess in which saidscrew is adapted to seat to induce the pressured spread of therespective portions of said arm-like elements constituting saidanchoring means.
 8. Bracket apparatus comprising at least two arm-likemeans pivotally related by pivot means and adapted thereby to positionin adjacent side by side relation or be pivotally adjusted inscissors-like fashion, means mounted to and extending laterally of oneof said arm-like means to normally dispose free of and in a sensetransverse to the other of said two arm-like means, said laterallyextending means mounting in connection therewith means adapted to bevariably projected therefrom to apply pressure to said other of said twoarm-like means when ends of said two armlike means remote from theirpivotal connection are disposed in an opening between opposite edgeportions of a base structure to which the bracket is intended to mountwhereby to cause said arm-like means to be spread and forced intoclamping engagement with said opposite edge portions between which theyare disposed, said one arm-like means comprising two lever-like armelements having said other arm-like means disposed therebetween, atleast in part, in the pivotal connection thereof thereto.
 9. Bracketapparatus comprising at least two arm-like means pivotally related bypivot means and adapted thereby to position in adjacent side by siderelation or be pivotally adjusted in scissors-like fashion, meansmounted to and extending laterally of one of said arm-like means tonormally dispose free of and in a sense transverse to the other of saidtwo arm-like means, said laterally extending means mounting inconnection therewith means adapted to be variably projected therefrom toapply pressure to said other of said two arm-like means when ends ofsaid two arm-like means remote from their pivotal connection aredisposed in an opening between opposite edge portions of a basestructure to which the bracket is intended to mount whereby to causesaid arm-like means to be spread and forced into clamping engagementwith said opposite edge portions between which they are disposed, saidvariably projectible means being a screw-like device which is threadedlyengaged with said laterally extending means and arranged to be projectedtherethrough to engage with and apply pressure to said other of saidarm-like means.
 10. Bracket apparatus as in claim 9 wherein at leastsaid other of said arm-like means has a plate-like form and is mountedto dispose in a plane commonly occupied by said screw-like device. 11.Bracket apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said other of said arm-likemeans has a notch in the surface thereof adjacent an end of saidscrew-like device, a means defining the inner extremity of which notchhas an arcuate form providing for said screw-like device to be advancedto bear and variably locate thereon, along the length thereof, inaccordance with the relative positions of said arm-like means in thelock thereof in an opening in the base structure to which the bracket ismounted.
 12. Bracket apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said other of saidarm-like means is comprised of a single plate-like arm member positionedbetween a pair of additional arm members of which said one arm-likemeans is comprised, said additional arm members having aligned aperturesto accommodate end portions of said laterally extending means,accommodated in said aperatures to provide freedom of relative rotarymotion of said laterally extending means, and said means mounting inconnection with said laterally extending means is a screw device whichmay be thrust therethrough, in threaded engagement therewith, andvariably projected therefrom to dispose in an edge portion of said armelement of which said other of said arm-like means is comprised, tospread said arm-like means to lock the same against opposite edgeportions of an opening in a base structure, and means threadedly engagedwith the screw device to be positioned thereon and adjusted to maintaina locked relation of said arm-like means to said base structure. 13.Bracket apparatus as in claim 12 characterized by remote edge portionsof said arm-like means having notches to accommodate therein oppositeedge portions of means defining an opening in a base structure to whichthe bracket apparatus is applied.